If you have ever used the subway on the western side of the network then you may have experienced what is commonly known as ‘the Govan Halt’.
There you are, happily trundling along past Ibrox or Partick at a fair old speed, drawing in to the venerable Govan, only to have to sit and wait for what seems like an eternity.
To be fair, if you are going to get stuck at a subway station then Govan is one of the more interesting ones. There is a fairly decent view out the windows to the cathedral like interior and it’s certainly not claustrophobic.
The reason for the halt is simple. Govan is the headquarters of the subway network and this is the place where the drivers change over. You will probably see the driver or one of the staff walking the length of the train just to have a look over it, picking up the dead metro’s and rubbish and generally making sure it is all ship shape. It’s nice to know they care.
They don’t tend to do it during rush hour or busy periods so if you are doing the morning commute then it is unlikely to affect you. Saying that if you are travelling to the other side of the network outside of rush hour just remember to factor in the time for the halt. You may be quicker going round the eastern town route if it’s only one stop but you will find the trains much quieter going past Govan and this is one of the reasons.
So if you are rushing for the train at Govan, hurtling down the escalator at a rate of knots, don’t be surprised to dash in to the last carriage only to find yourself sitting there for 5 minutes. At least you get to laugh at the people who dash on to the train after you, only to have the same experience.
Jimmy Monteith
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